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Asif Sinan

Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) is the literature festival that provides the connection between the author and the reader. It is also a platform for art performers and cultural programs.

The festival starts with the welcome speeches by the organizers followed by the performance by Asif Sinan.

In her keynote speech Ayesha Jalal said that, “Pakistan needs to focus on gaining consumer rights before political rights.”

Asif Sinan performing at KLF

Then there was an Award ceremony of KLF Pepsi and the winner of the prize for the non-fiction book of the year was “The Raj at War” by Yasmeen Khan. The Getz Pharma Prize for fiction went to Omar Shahid Hamid for his “The Spinner’s Tale”. The Infaq Urdu literature prize went to Nasir Abbas Nayyar.

First day was concluded by a captivating ‘Kathak’ performance by Shayma Saiyid.

Shayma Saiyid at KLF

This year there were 18 book launches at KLF but I really wanted to attend the launch event of Omar Shahid’s new book “The Party Worker” but unfortunately couldn’t reach the festival on day 2 cos I got sick.

So I went to the festival on day 3 and at the entry there was stall of Tapal Danedar where people were standing in queues to get Chai/Tea proves that how much we love Tea.

First I attended ‘Celebrating Faiz’ where Zehra Negah an Urdu poet praised his work by saying that, “He was an evergreen, extremely generous and down-to-earth man who was open to criticism.”Adeel Hashmi concluded the session by reading Faiz’s sublime poetry.

After that I had to the Book Fair, first stop was Liberty Books to buy my copy of ‘The Party Worker’.

And I found the some great collection Marvel and DC Comics at the some book stall at the end of the Book Fair.

Last session of the day was ‘Memories and Reflections’ by Zia Mohyeddin who needs no introduction. It was a treat for me to listen him reading the paragraph from his book “The God Of My Idolatry”.

Zia Mohyeddin at KLF

Thenthere was closing speeches by Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi followed by Performences by Shayma Saiyid and Suhaee Abro and a concert by Saif Samejo.